Denver | Russell Westbrook, whose finish -of -game follies had been suspended on the Denver Nuggets whereas navigating the superb layoffs of coach Michael Malone and GM Calvin Sales space on the eve of the playoffs, got here Classing towards his former Crunch Time group on Saturday.
“That is who he’s,” mentioned Nikola Jokic after watching Westbrook hit an unveiled nook at 3 factors to present Denver a two -point advance advance within the regulation, then passing the inbounds of – and out of – James Harden with 9.6 seconds in extensions to assist seal the 112-110 from Denver to Los Angeles’ victory.
“I simply know that (inbounds) performs”, after being there the 2 earlier seasons, mentioned Westbrook.
Westbrook had loads to do with the 20 reversals of Los Angeles, together with an uncommon seven of Kawhi Leonard.
“Russ is Russ,” mentioned appearing coach David Adelman after the development of 4-0. “Defensively, he’s completely unimaginable. He was taking part in free safety.
“After which offensively … He attacked,” mentioned Adelman. “We’d have been capable of take away it and execute it. However that is what Russ does. I do not suppose he’ll change after 17 years. If he sees somebody in 1 towards 1, he’ll assault. After which he made an enormous 3.”
Jokic scored 29 factors and completed a shy rebound in a triple-double. Aaron Gordon added 25 factors and Jamal Murray 21 whereas the Nuggets overcome a deficit of 15 factors within the first half to place himself with the most well liked group getting into the playoffs.
The pinnacle loss n ° 5 was their first since March 30 in Cleveland. They rolled within the playoffs after profitable 18 of the 21, together with their final eight.
“If you happen to flip 20 occasions towards the group which is n ° 1 in an offensive transition, then you’ll lose the match,” deplored the coach of the Clippers Tyronn Lue.
Harden led the Clippers with 32 factors. Leonard added 22 and Ivica Zubac was 21.
Leonard raised the shoulders of the defeat, saying that the temper of the group was “at all times good. Simply the match 1. You realize, Denver is an effective group, particularly at dwelling. All the time match 2.”
It is on Monday night in Ball Area.
Adelman mentioned that the late return key was really when Denver closed the second quarter on a 13-2 sequence to go to 53-49 at halftime.
“It was like a type of video games the place you slowly crawl on the rise,” mentioned Adelman.
And Westbrook opened the best way, a big quantity regardless of the dearth of 12 of the 17 pictures in complete.
“Many individuals deal with the disappearance of so many pictures,” mentioned Westbrook. “However within the playoffs, all you need to do is win the sport. I do not care in regards to the variety of pictures you’re lacking, made. Make merely defensively profitable basketball video games, offensively.”
And he did precisely that.
